Heliopsis plant named ‘Luna Roja’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Heliopsis plant named ‘Luna Roja’ that is characterized by its dwarf plant size, its strong flowering stems, its foliage that is dark green-purple to green-black in color, its inflorescences with ray florets that are orange-red in color, and its blooming from midsummer to early autumn in The Netherlands.

Botanical classification: Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra.

Variety denomination: ‘Luna Roja’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims foreign priority to European plant breeders'rights application filed on Dec. 3, 2021, application No. 2021/3171. TheApplicant received the information for the Plant breeders' rightsapplication directly from the Inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHeliopsis plant, botanically known as Heliopsis helianthoides var.scabra ‘Luna Roja’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivarname, ‘Luna Roja’.

The new cultivar was discovered as a chance seedling growing in a trialfield by the Inventor in Haarlem, The Netherlands in 2018. The seedlingarose from seed collected from open pollinated plants in the field thatcontained numerous unnamed and unpatented proprietary Heliopsisseedlings from the Inventor's breeding program. The seeds were pooledand parentage of ‘Luna Roja’ is therefore unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings under the direction of the Inventor in summer of 2019 inHaarlem, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings andtissue culture using meristematic tissue has shown that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘Luna Roja’ as a unique cultivar of Heliopsis.

-   -   1. ‘Luna Roja’ exhibits a dwarf plant size.    -   2. ‘Luna Roja’ exhibits strong flowering stems (that do not        lodge).    -   3. ‘Luna Roja’ exhibits foliage that is dark green-purple to        green-black in color.    -   4. ‘Luna Roja’ exhibits inflorescences with ray florets that are        orange-red in color.    -   5. ‘Luna Roja’ exhibits blooms from midsummer to early autumn in        The Netherlands.

‘Luna Roja’ can be compared to Heliopsis cultivars ‘Bleeding Hearts’(not patented), ‘Fire Twister’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,524) and ‘TuscanSun’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,763). ‘Bleeding Hearts’ and ‘Fire Twister’are both similar to ‘Luna Roja’ in inflorescence and foliage color.‘Bleeding Hearts’ and ‘Fire Twister’ both differ from ‘Luna Roja’ inhaving a much taller plant height. ‘Tuscan Sun’ is similar to ‘LunaRoja’ in having a compact plant habit. ‘Tuscan Sun’ differs from ‘LunaRoja’ in having foliage that is green in color and inflorescences thatare smaller in size and yellow in color.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales that fall within a one-year grace period prior to the filing date.Disclosures include website listings on websites by Growing Colors,Plantipp, Hayloft Plants, Vision Pictures, QVCUK, Baldur-Garten,Viridea, Globe Planter, Hortweek, Groupon, and Nursery Management.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Heliopsis. The photographs weretaken of a plant 12 months in age as field grown in Haarlem, TheNetherlands and placed in a 15-cm container for the photographs inHaarlem, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘Luna Roja’in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘Luna Roja’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘LunaRoja’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Heliopsis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of plants 12 months in age asfield grown in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the newcultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, andcultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withThe 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—From midsummer to early autumn (July to            October) in The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Dwarf, narrow, spreading-upright.        -   Plant size.—Average of 40 cm in height (soil level to top of            foliar plane), 42.8 cm in height (soil level to top of            floral plane), and 29 cm in spread.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Root development.—1 to 2 weeks for root initiation, a fully            rooted young plant is produced in three to four weeks.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.-   Branch description:    -   -   Branch shape.—Rounded and slightly angled, 5-sided.        -   Branch aspect.—Main and vertical branches 20° from vertical.        -   Branch strength.—Moderately strong to strong.        -   Branch color.—Young stems; N186C, internodes 184A, mature            stems; N186B, N186C and a blend of N186B and N186C.        -   Branch surface.—Young stems; moderately glossy, moderately            pubescent, hairs 0.2 mm in length, 156D in color, mature            stems; glabrous, moderately glossy.        -   Branch size.—Average of 8.3 cm in length, 3.5 mm in            diameter.        -   Internode length.—Average of 3.3 cm.        -   Branching.—Freely branching, average of 6 main branches, 5            lateral branches per main branch.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf shape.—Deltoid, slightly to moderately axially twisted.        -   Leaf base.—Broadly truncate to shallowly broadly truncate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate, coarsely undulate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface 200A, lower surface            187A.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; slightly rugose, matte, lower            surface; very slightly glossy, moderately rugose, both            surfaces moderately covered with very short strigose hairs,            an average of 0.3 mm in length, 156C to 156D in color.        -   Leaf color.—Young foliage upper surface; 147A, young foliage            lower surface; N199A to N199B and 200C, mature upper            surface; 147A and N189A, mature lower surface; 148A, tinged            with a blend of N186C and 200A.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 6.9 cm in length and 5 cm in width.        -   Petiole.—Strong, an average of 1.5 cm in length and 2 mm in            diameter, upper surface; matte, glabrous, N186C in color,            lower surface; moderately glossy, 187A in color, sparsely            covered with very short strigose hairs, 0.3 mm in length,            too small to measure color.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Rotate, terminal capitulum consisting of            a receptacle, disc florets and ray florets.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Average of 10 days,            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—2 per lateral stem, 72            inflorescences and buds per plant.        -   Inflorescence buds.—About 1.5 cm in length, 2.7 cm in            diameter (including involucral bracts), 1.5 cm in diameter            (excluding involucral bracts), flattened in shape, immature            ray florets pointing upward (near vertical), color; immature            ray florets a blend of N186C and 200B, immature disc florets            a blend of N186C and 187A, immature involucral bracts N200A,            base; N144D, surface is matte and moderately pubescent with            very short hairs, average of 0.02 cm in length, too small to            measure color.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 2.1 cm in height and 6.3            cm in diameter.        -   Receptacle.—Triangular, average of 6 mm in depth and 1 cm in            diameter, disc diameter 2.1 cm, 150D in color.        -   Peduncle.—10.9 cm in length, 3 mm in diameter, strong,            upright, straight on top of lateral branch, a blend of N186C            and 200A, very slightly glossy, moderately covered with very            short adpressed hairs, an average of 0.3 mm in length, 156C            in color.        -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries).—Rotate, average of 20, 2            rows, outer bracts; 1.2 cm in length, 3.5 mm in width,            un-fused, oblong in shape, acute tip, broadly cuneate base,            entire margins, color; upper surface N200A, lower surface a            blend of 200B and N200A, surface is glossy, matte and            moderately pubescent with very short hairs, average of 0.02            cm in length, too small to measure color, inner bracts; 7 mm            in length, 3 mm in width, un-fused, broad ovate in shape,            acute tip, broadly cuneate base, entire margins, color;            upper surface 145B, base 145C, lower surface 145A, surface            is glossy, matte and moderately pubescent with very short            hairs, average of 0.02 cm in length, too small to measure            color.        -   Spine.—Single bract present next to each individual disc            floret, spirally placed on disc, one bract next to each            individual disc floret, surface smooth, glabrous, and            moderately glossy, 7 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter, narrow            oblong in shape, obtuse apex, broad cuneate base, color;            apex 176A, mid-section and base 145C.-   Ray florets (carpellate):    -   -   Number.—Average of 21, 2 rows.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Appearance.—Smooth, glabrous, moderately carinate, nearly            horizontal.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Aspect.—Nearly horizontal, slightly upward in an average            angle of 20° to horizontal.        -   Size.—Average of 2.7 cm in length and 1 cm in width.        -   Ray floret apex.—Shallowly praemorse.        -   Ray floret base.—Attenuate.        -   Ray floret margins.—Entire.        -   Ray floret texture.—Upper surface velvety and matte, lower            surface moderately velvety and very slightly glossy.        -   Ray floret color.—When opening upper surface; 173A, lower            half 183A, when opening lower surface; N186C, when fully            open upper surface; N172A, veins N170A, fading to 21A, lower            half 185A, lower half a blend of 185A and 187C, when fully            open lower surface; 165B, fading to 164A and 165B.-   Disc florets (perfect):    -   -   Quantity.—Average of 200.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Arrangement.—Spirally placed on disc in 9 rows.        -   Disc floret apex.—Upper 12.5% free, acute, entire margins.        -   Disc floret base.—Lower 87.5% fused.        -   Disc floret texture.—Both surfaces glabrous, slightly            glossy, non-rugose.        -   Size.—Average of 9 mm in length and 3 mm in width.        -   Color.—When opening upper and lower surface N186C,            mid-section and base transparent 145C, when fully open upper            and lower surface 183A, mid-section and base transparent            N144B, both surfaces fading to 183A, mid-section and base            transparent and 152D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Presence.—Disc florets are perfect, ray florets are            carpellate.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, per disc and ray floret, 9 mm in            length, stigma; cleft, 3 mm in diameter, color 183A, style;            7 mm in length, 183A in color, ovary; 185C in color.        -   Androecium.—Stamens; 5 per disc floret, filaments; 1.5 mm in            length and 151D in color, anthers; narrow oblong in shape,            2.5 mm in length, 0.5 mm in width and N199A in color,            pollen; low in quantity and 14A in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—No fruits or seeds observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Heliopsis plant named‘Luna Roja’ as herein illustrated and described.